Groove design for precision rubber/urethane conditioning rolls
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorEdward H. Priepke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conditioner roll design is provided that employs unique spiraled stepped grooves that enhance feeding of the crop mat when the rolls are abutted or at precise gaps. The groove has a leading edge and increased depth that allow expansion of the crop mat into the trailing gripper edges to provide gripping without intermeshing. The gripping side of the groove is nearly perpendicular to the direction of crop travel for positive gripping and advancing the crop. The grooves on the two rolls may be selectively timed to either mate at the point of contact or align a groove on one roll with a smooth surface on the other.
Claims22
A roll assembly for use on a crop conditioning machine comprising:
- first and second elongate rotatable rolls supported in a framework for rotation about respective first and second axes of rotation and disposed in adjacent parallel relationship, said first roll generally above said second roll;
- each said first and second rolls having a peripheral surface;
- said second roll comprising an elongate cylindrical rigid body portion having a generally smooth peripheral surface with a layer of hard elastomeric material affixed thereto, said elastomeric layer having at least one groove therein, said groove being formed in a spiral along the length of said rigid body portion;
- and
- said at least one groove generally having a cross-sectional configuration comprised of at least a first and second surfaces, said first surface being generally perpendicular to the tangent of said peripheral surface of said second roll and said second surface tapering at an angle from the edge of said first surface closest to said second axis of rotation, the intersection of said second surface and said peripheral surface of said second roll forming a leading edge.
A conditioner roll for use on a crop conditioning machine comprising:
- an elongate rotatable roll having an axis of rotation and a peripheral surface;
- said roll comprising an elongate cylindrical rigid body portion having a generally smooth peripheral surface with a layer of hard elastomeric material affixed thereto, said elastomeric layer having at least one groove therein, said groove being formed in a spiral along the length of said rigid body portion;
- and
- said at least one groove generally having a cross-sectional configuration comprised of at least a first and second surfaces, said first surface being generally perpendicular to the tangent of said peripheral surface of said roll and said second surface tapering at an angle from the edge of said first surface closest to said axis of rotation, the intersection of said second surface and said peripheral surface of said roll forming a leading edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.